Patience is a Virtue – Just Not One of Mine

Patience: Creating a sense of peaceful stability and community rather than suffering, hostility and antagonism.

“Do you have a reservation?” The airport parking lot attendant asked me.

“No,” I said rubbing the face of my watch, hoping to erase a few minutes. “I don’t have a reservation.”

“Well. You’ll have to do valet.”

I cringed at the thought of how much that would cost me but, looking at my watch again, I realized I was out of options if I was going to make my flight. (Actually, if I was going to be an hour early for my flight – which I have to be, because I’m a freak.)

I pulled over into the Valet lane and got out of my car. While I tapped my foot impatiently, a conversation waged in my head. If this is going to cost twice as much as regular parking I should at least be getting special service.

And then I waited and waited and waited. — I’m going to pay three times as much for Valet and waiting longer, that doesn’t make sense.

I got back in my car to check the time stamp on my ticket against the current time so I could be justified in my impatience. Valet’s going to cost me more than my flight did! Man, they’re going to get a piece of my mind.

The bus finally arrived and I stomped on and then slumped into my seat. If I’d been a cartoon character, the other passengers would have seen smoke coming out of my ears. I made it off the bus without murdering anyone, but stewed and fretted about it the whole trip.

My return flight landed at 10 pm and by the time I got my luggage and climbed on the parking bus I was tired and cranky. But, as we pulled into the parking lot, I brightened. After all, I was a VIP Valet Parker, I’d be the first one off the bus. Oh yes, all that money I was paying would be well worth it. Hee hee.

He stopped and let someone else off first. “Excuse me,” I politely said. “I’m a valet parker.” I smiled condencendingly at the rest of the bus.

“Yes, I know,” the driver said.

Striking resemblance to Grandmother Nellie

He then promptly let the next person off…and the next…and the next. With each departing passenger my impatient, self-righteous indignation grew.

Finally, I was the last one off the bus — but before I snatched my keys from his hand, I asked in my haughtiest Grandmother Nellie voice, “Just exactly what are the special services that come with paying extra for valet? Because I certainly haven’t experienced any!”

“Ma’am.” He sighed. “You’re not paying for valet.”

“But, but…” I sputtered pointing at the keys to my car that he held in his hand.

“We don’t even have valet service. We just parked your car for you as a favor. It’s the same price as everywhere else.”

So, cross off Patience from my list of virtues. Obviously, we can also remove Chastity and may as well erase Humility. I’m still hanging on by a thread to Charity, Kindness and Temperance. But I’m keeping Diligent – because no one is more diligent then I am when it comes to impatience.

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Speaking of impatience – I’m not sure how much longer I can wait for you to subscribe before I go all Grandmother Nellie on you.

Funny how Grandma Nellie looks a lot like my mother in one of her moods. I wonder if we’re related somehow–other than the family of Humans.

I loved your story and hope it taught you that other people have senses of humor (like telling you it was valet parking when they don’t even have it) and we don’t always get it (even though we’re quite amusing ourselves).

Not that I mean to be Debbie Downer, but I think you can remove Temperance which the dictionary defines as moderation in thought or action. Just sayin’.